rvnye

That's why I bought a pair of 2 year old LSIIs for $4,000 (in cherry). No tax. Would I rather have the new model, yes, but not for that amount of money. That's just me. I do see your point. I suspect Klipsch doesn't sell many AL5s, so they probably don't make much money on them. I suspect Klipsch makes much more money on the non-heritage products.

Well, I bought the La Scala IIs and got them set up in my listening room. WOW, what a huge sound stage!! They do disappear, with very good imaging. I like speakers that sound life-like. I go to live performances often. The dynamics and transients of live performances are incredible. I have a nice 2 channel system so I can buy a "performance" for $15 or $20 and play it over and over instead of seeing it live (the drinks are cheaper too!). So I'm looking for speakers that not only reproduce the timbre of instruments, but speakers that can reproduce that live performance feeling. The imaging, dynamics and transients are very important to me. The La Scalas replaced Tonian Labs TLD-1 Mk II SE speakers. For the cost and size, those speakers are really great! I thought I would possibly regret getting the LSIIs. The Tonians have some peaks in the upper-low frequencies, and they weren't the best at loud rock (Lowther drivers). They really excelled at vocals, and instruments that had a soundboard (like guitars, pianos and violins, etc.). My first impressions of the La Scalas is that they have great dynamics, transients, great first row soundstage as well as reproducing the timbre of the sound accurately. Where the Tonians did a little better was in the high frequencies (triangles, silkiness of violins). My plan is to tri-amp the LSIIs with active crossovers so maybe that will help the highs. What I like most about the LSIIs is that they make me feel like I'm in the front row next to the performers, and they have LOTS of power to turn it up and rock out!! My Hsu sub blends pretty well with the LSIIs. It's a non-ported sub. Maybe because I'm driving the LSIIs with a 300b SET amp which doesn't have as much control over the bass as a SS amp. I'm going to hook up a 50W SS amp (Rotel) today to do a little A-B comparison with the 300b SET. If the rig sounds good with the Rotel SS amp, I'm planning on getting a Xilica XP-4080 to set the delays and pEQ the system/room. I need to work on room treatment too. I'll use the 6X50W Rotel amp to tri-amp the LSIIs. I'm looking forward to seeing how that improves the sound. Thanks to all who had input and shared their opinions and experience. It's a great forum with a lot of friendly, helpful folks. Richard

Thanks again for your help Chris. I had run across the Audioscience testing and review of the minidsp 2x4HD in an earlier search I did, but understand it more this time around. It's taking me a little time to absorb things. The test results weren't stellar. I think I am going with the Xilica xp-4x8 (for about $150 more I can get the 8x8 which would give me room to grow). The D-A converter on the Berkeley Alpha is very good, so I will use the balanced analog output to Xilica balanced input. Sadly, my Rotel 6 ch amp has unbalanced inputs, however my sub has a balanced input. I'll have to see what cables I have and order the rest. I'll PM and take you up on your offer to help dial in my system. It might be a few weeks as I get everything together.

Chris, first of all, thank you very much for taking the time to respond with such detailed and clear information. I pulled the trigger on nearly new LSIIs that will be delivered in a few days. I'll initially connect them to my Woo 300b Set Amp, but I know my curiosity will make it manditory to tri-amp them (quad with subs) with an active DSP. A few questions for you... 1. I'm planning on using my Berkeley Alpha DAC as a preamp. It has digital and balanced line outs. Would it be better in your opinion to use a Xilica XP4040 (or 8080) with line ins (and do 2 D-A conversions), or use a MiniDSP 4x10HD and use digital in? Is the Dirac series better (DDRC-88A)? The Berkeley DAC is very good quality with (digital) volume control. 2. I have a Rotel 6 X 50watt Amp with RCA inputs that I could use. Do you have a favorite cable you would recommend? (XLR > RCA) Thanks again. I'm looking forward to this little project, learning something, and hearing the outcome!

@Islander, you convinced me, I got off the couch and bought the LSIIs, cherry, made in July, 2018 for $4k even, delivered and set up. I'll take delivery next week. Looking forward to hearing them. Thanks to everyone for your help. Now I'm going to review the thread on bi/tri amping with DSP delay, filters and PEq. Richard

I didn't think the sn conformed to the Klipsch format. They should only be a couple years old. Just wanted to confirm. I will ask dealer to send photo. Thanks!

Hi! I'm looking at a pair of cherry La Scalas with the following serial numbers: 100099518350003 & 04 Can anyone tell me how old they are? Thanks, Richard

Only the center driver of the 7 driver array is a tweeter. The 6 other drivers work in unison as a midrange driver (with longer wavelengths). The speaker is said to sound lively and realistic (like real music).

@Chris - You said, "I always try to minimize the conversion to analog, because that's where the noise gets into the system and the real distortion and other signal degradation all reside. So if using a two-channel DAC, you can output directly to a miniDSP 4x10 HD and bypass a conversion to analog out of the preamp---and directly connect to the DSP crossover via digital buses. Output from the DSP crossover is best if balanced connections--going to the amplifiers, but careful routing of power cables can reduce the common mode noise (60/120/180/240 Hz)." My Berkeley Alpha DAC has digital outputs. I agree with you to minimize D to A conversions, would I use the miniDSP to control volume? If not, how would you recommend? (this is sounding more feasible since I would just need to get a $500 mini DSP, some cables and use the 6 channel Rotel I already have) Several years ago I got a great deal on Magnepan MG20.1 ($2K!!) and an Accuphase P1000 amp (another $2K!). It scratched an itch I had ever since I was in college and my friend bought some of the first Maggies (MG2s I think) and they were amazing to my ears at the time. I replaced the Accuphase with Manley Neo Classic 250W monoblocks (tube amps). They made the MG20.1s sing (and heated the house in the winter), but took up most of my listening room. Another itch was a small SET system, which sounded appealing and would give me my room back. That's how I ended up with a small SET amp (well, still 70 lbs) and the Tonian Labs TLD-1 speakers. La Scalas are another itch from college era, and I found a nice pair of 1 year old LSs in cherry. They're a little big, but I think I can make them work. But I'm not sure I'm ready for the mods (DSP, etc.) right now. All of the upgrades would give me some "runway" to tinker and learn. But for now I think I would be satisfied with the stock La Scalas until I got the upgrade itch. @ Islander, Jubilees are out of the question - too big for me! Also, my sources and other electronics are very good. I'm running a Woo Audio WA5 300b SET (with Takatsuki 300b tubes), Berkley Alpha DAC, and Bryston BDP-1 digital audio player. Saying this in the Klipsch forum may be heresy (pun intended), but I'm also considering Tekton Perfect SET speakers. Definitely not as cool as the LSs, doesn't have the upgrade potential, or the support of long term enthusiasts on a cool forum, but they might be more plug and play. Thanks again for helping me to think through this. It is a fascinating hobby.

Oh, not good. What are the favorite DSPs for home audio?

Chris, I do have a Rotel 6 channel amp (60w/ch) that I'm no longer using (RCA inputs sadly). I found a dbx DriveRack PA2 (2 channel in, 6 channel out) DSP with what looks like a very simple easy to use interface for $439. It would be nice to have 4 outputs (hi, middle, low plus subs), but I could use the xover on the subs if I wanted to add subs to the La Scalas. Overview video below. I just need to get a line level output out of my Woo Audio preamp, or get another preamp. This is sounding more doable. Richard

Chris, when you introduced the idea to me to tri-amp the La Scalas using a DSP I have to admit, I dismissed the idea as being too techie for me. There's something to be said about simple systems. Introducing more electronics in the signal path wasn't the way I was thinking. But I gave it another thought, and it might be a good way to take this hobby. On the surface, it sounds like a good idea. I went to Xilica website to do a little research. If I took this approach, I'd need to change a few things. First, the Woo Audio WA-5 doesn't have a line out. I think they can add one if I sent mine back in. Next, I don't have a Windows laptop to run the Xilica software. Next, I'd need to get 2 more amps and cables, and think about power management. This would have to be something I'd grow into. A couple questions for you...If I were to bi-amp instead of tri-amp, would I power one of the crossovers, and one of the drivers? Like power the subwoofer with a separate amp, and power the mid/high crossover with a 2nd amp? If you tri-amp, there is no need for the crossover, right? Also, what amps would you recommend for the low, middle & high? SET amp for each? SS amp for the lows? You have me thinking now, and it could get expensive. Richard

WOW, I'm blown away by the helpful responses for forum members! Thank you for taking the time. @Chris, yes, those are the speakers I'm using. The speakers are very dynamic and lively, but also very revealing of recordings that aren't the very best quality. They really shine with string instruments, vocals and drums. They're a good match with my 300b amp too. I hadn't thought about the effect the driver position has on timing misalignment. How does such a misalignment have on the sound of the speaker? I'm not sure I want to go to the trouble of bi- or tri-amping my speakers. @wvu80, thanks for the info on pricing. Sounds like there may be some negotiating room in the asking price 😁. Richard

@Peter P. If I can put the La Scalas in the corner, they should take up less room than the Heresys. The Heresys would need to come out from the front wall probably at least a foot, and brought in from the side walls too I suspect. Another speaker I'm eyeing is the Tekton Perfect Set (or Set 15). Lots of good choices these days.

I'm new to the forum, and it's great to see such an active forum. Ever since the mid 70s when I heard my first Klipshorn, I've admired, well, lusted for Klipsch speakers. I have a Woo Audio 300b SET amp with Tonian Labs TLD-1 MK III SE speakers for a 2 channel system. They're a great speaker, and with the right music and great recordings, they really can make music come alive. But they sometimes can be a little too revealing, and don't work well with some genres of music (rock or complex loud music). I'm toying around with living out my teen fantasy and getting some heritage Klipsch speakers. The reviews of the Heresy IVs sound great and I was going in that direction. Then I saw some 1+ year old, cherry La Scala IIs for $4,300. I'd like to get your thoughts on what I should do. My front wall is only 9.5 feet wide, and the speakers could go in the corners. The room opens up to 12' wide and is 20' deep. I currently have a Hsu subwoofer, but probably wouldn't have room for it if I got the La Scalas. Maybe I'd have room for it with the Heresys. I prefer not to use the sub, and could always repurpose it for the home theater. Questions for you...is that room too small for the La Scalas? Would I need a subwoofer with the La Scalas? Do the La Scalas work well against the front wall in the corner, maybe toed in some? Could I get a similar sound with the Heresy IVs? Which speakers would you recommend?? Thanks! Richard